As people's living standards continue to improve, there is an increasing concern for personal health, and there is a growing rejection of environmentally unfriendly products. Therefore, the development of eco-friendly industries is the primary focus at this stage. However, there are still some issues in the adhesive industry. In recent years, the adhesive industry has made rapid progress, providing society with many new types of adhesives but also introducing new pollution problems to the environment. The environmental issues associated with adhesives primarily involve pollution and potential health hazards caused by harmful substances present in adhesives, such as volatile organic compounds, toxic curing agents, plasticizers, solvents, and other additives, as well as hazardous fillers. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Organic solvents in solvent-based adhesives, such as formaldehyde in phenol-formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde adhesives, styrene in unsaturated polyester adhesives, unreacted monomers in acrylic emulsion adhesives, methyl methacrylate in modified acrylic adhesive with fast curing structures, polyisocyanates in polyurethane adhesives, sulfur dioxide in α-cyanoacrylate adhesives, and ammonia as a thickener in acrylic emulsion, are volatile organic compounds that are emitted into the atmosphere. They pose significant risks and can undergo photochemical reactions, leading to the generation of ozone. Ozone pollution in lower atmospheric regions can affect plant growth and human health. Some halogenated hydrocarbon solvents contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, while certain aromatic solventss exhibit high toxicity, including carcinogenic properties. Methyl methacrylate, sulfur dioxide, and ethylamine, among others, emit strong odors and contribute to air pollution, deteriorating the atmospheric environment. Toxic Curing Agents and Plasticizers: Aromatic amine curing agents are highly toxic and some can even cause bladder cancer, such as 2,4-diaminotoluene. Phosphoric acid triphenyl ester, found in plasticizers, is highly toxic, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DOP) pose significant health risks. They can disrupt the endocrine system when absorbed by the body. Animal studies have shown that these substances can particularly damage the liver and kidneys and even potentially cause cancer. Therefore, caution must be exercised when using them.

1. Toxic Fillers: Adhesives use a variety of fillers, and asbestos powder fibers are particularly harmful to the environment. Asbestos fibers are extremely fine and highly carcinogenic. When airborne, they can enter the human body through the respiratory tract and pores, accumulating in the lungs and leading to diseases such as lung cancer, bronchial cancer, and mesothelioma. The latency period of diseases caused by asbestos exposure can be as long as 40 years. In Japan, asbestos is referred to as a "silent time bomb."

2. Toxic and Harmful Additives: Once the base resin (or rubber) used in adhesives is determined, the formulation and performance of the adhesive largely depend on the regulating and modifying effects of the additives used. However, attention must be paid to the toxicity of certain additives. Antioxidant Agent D has been confirmed to be carcinogenic, BHT still has suspected carcinogenicity, while MOCA, azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), and dioctyltin bis(2-ethylhexanoate) have significant toxicity.

While the functionality and applications of adhesives have received widespread attention, their underlying environmental issues are often overlooked. However, as environmental awareness and health consciousness continue to increase, the requirements for adhesive environmental protection will become more stringent. Therefore, it is essential for individuals to take necessary protective measures when using adhesives to avoid unexpected consequences due to negligence. Production units should also strive to manufacture environmentally friendly and green adhesives, while consumers eagerly anticipate the availability of non-toxic and harmless adhesives.